Descriptive Words for Commentary or Analysis of Text 

        
Positive       Negative
Authentic Inspirational Reactionary   Absurd
Conservative Ironic Realistic   Commonplace
Controversial Liberal Recondite   Heretical
Credible Melodramatic Romantic   Improbable
Cultural Mystical Satiric   Incredible
Didactic Naturalistic Scholarly   Insignificant
Dramatic Objective Significant   Intolerant
Esoteric Orthodox Spiritual   Pedantic
Expressionistic Philosophic Subjective   Prejudiced
Fanciful Plausible Symbolic   Shallow
Humanistic Pragmatic Utilitarian   Superficial
Humorous Profound     Trivial
Impressionistic Radical     Unscholarly

Descriptive Words for Characters:  Physical Qualities

Positive     Negative    
Active Exquisite Pretty Awkward Hideous Ugly
Adept Fair Ravishing Bizarre Homely Ungainly
Adroit Fascinating Robust Cadaverous Horrible Unkempt
Agile Good-looking Shapely Clumsy Incongruous Unmanly
Attractive Graceful Skillful Coarse Invidious Unwomanly
Beautiful Handsome Spirited Decrepit Loathsome Weak
Brawny Hardy Spruce Effeminate Odious  
Charming Immaculate Stalwart Emaciated Repellent  
Comely Lively Strapping Feeble Repugnant  
Dainty Lovely Strong Frail Repulsive  
Dapper Manly Sturdy Gawky Sickly  
Delicate Muscular Virile Ghastly Slovenly  
Dexterous Neat Vivacious Graceless Spare  
Elegant Nimble Winsome Grotesque Thin  

Descriptive Words for Characters: Mental Qualities

Positive   Negative  
Apt Learned Bigoted Stupid
Astute Observant Crass Ungifted
Capable Precocious Dull Unintellectual
Clever Prudent Fatuous Unintelligent
Competent Rational Foolish Unlettered
Crafty Reasonable Ignorant Unschooled
Cunning Sage Illiterate Vacuous
Educated Scholarly Inane  
Erudite Sensible Irrational  
Gifted Shrewd Narrow-minded  
Ingenious Subtle Obtuse  
Intellectual Talented Puerile  
 Intelligent Wily Shallow  
Inventive Wise Simple  

Descriptive Words for Characters:  Moral Qualities

Positive   Negative  
Abstemious Righteous Base Iniquitous
Austere Straightforward Corrupt Intemperate
Chaste Temperate Deceitful Notorious
Decent Trustworthy Degenerate Reprobate
Exemplary Truthful Depraved Ribald
Faultless Undefiled Dishonest Sensual
Guileless Upright Dishonorable Unprincipled
Honorable Virtuous Dissolute Unscrupulous
Idealistic   Foul Vicious
Innocent   Immoral Vile
Pure   Incorrigible Vulgar
Puritanical   Indecent Wicked
Respectable   Infamous  
       

Descriptive Words for Characters: Spiritual Qualities

Positive   Negative  
Angelic   Agnostic Materialistic
Devout   Atheistic Mundane
Faithful   Blasphemous Profane
Godlike   Carnal Sacrilegious
Holy   Diabolic Skeptical
Pious   Fiend like Unregenerate
Regenerate   Godless  
Religious   Impious  
Reverent   Irrelevant  
Saintly   Irreligious  

Descriptive Words for Characters:  Social Qualities

Positive   Negative  
Affable   Acrimonious Irascible
Amiable   Antagonistic Malevolent
Amicable   Anti-social Misanthropic
Cheerful   Boorish Obsequious
Civil   Brusque Peevish
Congenial   Captious Perverse
Convivial   Caustic Petulant
Cooperative   Churlish Provincial
Cordial   Contentious Quarrelsome
 Courteous   Crabbed Rustic
Debonair   Critical Shrewish
Elegant   Crusty Sniveling
Genial   Cynical Sulky
Gracious   Discourteous Sullen
Hospitable   Fawning Sycophantic
Jolly   Fractious Uncivil
Jovial   Grumpy Unctuous
Polite   Ill-bred Ungracious
Politic   Ill-mannered Unpolished
Sociable   Implacable Unrefined
Suave   Impolite Unsociable
Tactful   Imprudent Waspish
Urbane   Insolent  

Descriptive Words for Characters: General Qualities

Positive       Negative    
Admirable Gentle Phlegmatic   Apathetic Indiscreet Rebellious
Altruistic Gullible Plucky   Arrogant Inefficient Recalcitrant
Ambitious Humane Punctual   Artificial Insensitive Reckless
Aristocratic Humble Radical   Avaricious Insidious Refractory
Artless Illustrious Reactionary   Boastful Insignificant Remiss
Assiduous Imperturbable Refined   Brutish Intolerant Reprehensible
Audacious Imposing Reserved   Bumptious Irresolute Ruthless
Benevolent Impressive Resolute   Bungling Irresponsible Sanctimonious
Candid Indifferent Resourceful   Callous Lackadaisical Scurrilous
Cautious Indomitable Responsive   Capricious Lazy Self-centered
Charitable Indulgent Reticent   Complacent Lethargic Self-indulgent
Circumspect Industrious Saturnine   Conceited Listless Silly
Compassionate Influential Saucy   Contemptible Malicious Slothful
Confident Ingenious Scrupulous   Contemptuous Malignant Smug
Conscientious Intrepid Sedate   Cowardly Mediocre Squeamish
Conservative Kindly Self-impassive   Craven Mercenary Stingy
Considerate Laconic Self-reliant   Cruel Mischievous Stubborn
Courageous Liberal Sensitive   Dilatory Mulish Timorous
Coy Long-suffering Serious   Disdainful Niggardly Traitorous
Cultured Magnanimous Shy   Dogmatic Obdurate Treacherous
Demure Meek Sober   Domineering Obnoxious Truculent
Determined Melancholic Solemn   Eccentric Obstinate Unambitious
Diffident Merciful Staid   Egotistical Odd Unreliable
Diligent Moody Stoical   Envious Oppressive Unruly
Discreet Munificent Strong-willed   Erratic Ordinary Unstable
Distinguished Naïve Sympathetic   Fastidious Overconfident Vain
Earnest Natural Taciturn   Fickle Parasitic Venal
Efficient Noble Thrifty   Frivolous Parsimonious Vindictive
Eloquent Nonchalant Timid   Gluttonous Perfidious Voracious
Eminent Patient Tolerant   Haughty Petty Wearisome
Enthusiastic Pensive Unaffected   Headstrong Pharisaical Willful
Flippant Persevering Uncompromising   Hypocritical Pompous Worthless
Forbearing Persistent Valorous   Imperious Prejudiced  
Frugal Persuasive Wary   Impetuous Prolix  
Garrulous Pert Well-bred   Imprudent Proud  
Generous Philanthropic Whimsical   Impulsive Quixotic  
Genteel Philosophical Witty   Incompetent Rash  
    Zealous